"No Corrupt Word"

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION

Ephesians 4:29-32 Let no corrupt word proceed from your mouth, but only what is good for edification, that it may give grace to them that hear.

What we say, and how we say it, matters. Let’s never think that isn’t so. Especially among ourselves, we must be very careful! Let’s consider what these verses (especially v. 29) say about communication.

“Let no corrupt word proceed from your mouth”

A. No exceptions, no loopholes – this is RESTRICTIVE

1. It doesn’t allow us to come up with the rules ourselves

2. Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;

3. Sometimes we may want to make excuses b/c of emotion, situation, etc. – these things do not change the truth of God!

B. We live in a culture that doesn’t want to restrict ANYTHING

1. Rightly so – Secularly, we need to tolerate and encourage free speech. Not that we encourage the speech itself! (Nazi on corner must be allowed to speak, just as much as the anarchist on the other corner!)

2. However, Christians are called upon to be DIFFERENT!

3. Eph. 4:17-24 – Don’t walk as others walk!

4. While we have great freedoms as a benefit to living in this country in terms of our speech, we must give God the FULL REGULATION of everything we say and do!

C. What IS a “corrupt word”?

1. Galatians 5:19-21 – Every bit of this permeates the media we are surrounded with each day. Even if not shown, it is spoken of, hinted at, and injected into what we are to consider “comedy”.

2. While we live in a corrupt world, remember that the world of the 1st century, with its legalized slavery and oppressive empires was not much different.

3. Remember – what we take in can easily influence how we think. How we think determines how we speak, and WHAT we speak. If we voluntarily surround ourselves with this every day, it will influence is, sooner or later! “Garbage in, garbage out”

4. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.

II. “ONLY what is good for edification”

A. This should be our ONLY communication.

1. How we communicate to one another will change things.

2. “…but words will never hurt me” – few lies are greater!

3. Words have power. The things we say have an effect. How broad that effect is, or what it brings about, is another thing, and something that we may never know, but always remember that what we say does matter.

4. The good things we say can sometimes stick with others; but so can the hurtful and harsh things.

5. Proverbs 15:1-2 A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger. The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.

B. Edification – “architecture, that is, (concretely) a structure; figuratively confirmation:” (Strong’s)

1. This should be our goal for each other – it was such for the Christians of the 1stcentury!

2. Acts 9:31 So the church throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.

3. Acts 20:32 And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified.

4. Ephesians 4:11-12 “…unto the building up of the body of Christ”

5. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do.

C. Is your speech building up, or tearing down?

1. Remember, we may NEED to tear each other down from time to time!

2. Jeremiah 1:9-10 – The clear majority of what Jeremiah was told to do was destructive.

3. Sometimes, what we have built up within ourselves is unsound in its construction; false doctrine can easily take root.

4. When that happens, we had better hope that we have friends willing to pull the plug and demolish that unsound structure!

5. However, there may be times when all we’re doing is tearing each other down, and NEVER building each other up!

6. Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.

7. Your speech has to be USEFUL! If all we do is complain, or browbeat, and we never edify each other, there is no point in this group coming together, or even existing!

III. “that IT may give GRACE to them that hear”

A. Our Communication is intended to give GRACE.

1. If this is not our intent, WE SHOULD BE SAYING NOTHING.

2. Remember, love and grace are bigger than we can possibly imagine!

3. Grace – “…the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life…” (STRONG’s)

4. A reprimand given in love is an act of grace! Pointing out truth in love is an act of grace! Withdrawal from a brother for the right reason and intent is an act of grace!

B. Grace is something that’s given – NOT earned!

1. Don’t expect good words to be met with good behavior.

2. Our brothers and sisters will let us down from time to time.

3. Stay strong and steadfast – don’t let bitterness claim you!

4. Hebrews 12:12-15 – Be who YOU need to be, help others be who THEY should be, and give God the glory!

C. Don’t frustrate grace by holding back on what needs to be said.

1. Galatians 2:20-21

2. Acts 4:19-20 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye: for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard.

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